Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over ₹4,900 crore in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday. The projects span across sectors including airport, highways, railways, port, and power, and are aimed at enhancing connectivity, boosting logistics, strengthening clean energy infrastructure, and improving the quality of life for the citizens of Tamil Nadu.
A key highlight of the inaugurations was the new state-of-the-art terminal building at Thoothukudi Airport, constructed at a cost of around ₹450 crore. The new terminal building, spanning 17,340 square meters, is equipped to handle 1,350 passengers during peak hours and 20 lakh passengers annually, significantly increasing the airport's capacity. The terminal also boasts 100% LED lighting, energy-efficient electrical and mechanical systems, and a sewage treatment plant for treated water reuse, earning it a GRIHA-4 sustainability rating. The runway has been extended to 3,115 meters from the existing 1,350 meters to accommodate larger aircraft.
In the road infrastructure sector, the Prime Minister dedicated two strategically significant highway projects to the nation. The first is the four-laning of the 50 km Sethiyathope–Cholapuram stretch of NH-36, developed at a cost of over ₹2,350 crore under the Vikravandi–Thanjavur corridor. This includes three bypasses, a 1-km four-lane bridge over the Kollidam River, four major bridges, seven flyovers, and several underpasses, reducing travel time by 45 minutes between Sethiyathope and Cholapuram and boosting connectivity to the Delta region's cultural and agricultural hubs. The second project is the six-laning of the 5.16 km NH-138 Tuticorin Port Road, built at around ₹200 crore, featuring underpasses and bridges.
Furthermore, PM Modi dedicated to the nation the electrification of the 90 km Madurai–Bodinayakkanur railway line, promoting eco-friendly transport and supporting tourism and daily commuting in Madurai and Theni. He also dedicated the ₹650 crore doubling of the 21 km Nagercoil Town–Kanniyakumari section, part of the Thiruvananthapuram–Kanniyakumari project, reinforcing transport links between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
In the power sector, the Prime Minister dedicated a 400 kV (quad) double-circuit transmission line from Kudankulam to the Tuticorin-II GIS substation, along with associated terminal equipment, built at an estimated cost of ₹550 crore. This will reinforce the national grid, enable reliable clean energy distribution, and meet growing electricity demands in Tamil Nadu and other beneficiary states. A project worth nearly ₹50 crore for the evacuation of power from Kudankulam Units 3 and 4 was also implemented.
Additionally, the Prime Minister inaugurated a new North Cargo Berth III at VO Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi, constructed at a cost of ₹80 crore, which will enhance the port's cargo handling capacity.
PM Modi emphasized the importance of infrastructure and energy for a state's development, highlighting the central government's commitment to Tamil Nadu's growth over the past 11 years. He stated that these projects would make Thoothukudi and Tamil Nadu a hub of connectivity, clean energy, and new opportunities, driving the state towards becoming a driving force of Viksit Bharat. He also mentioned the recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK, emphasizing its role in boosting India's self-confidence and contributing to the vision of a developed India and a developed Tamil Nadu.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1999 Kargil war on the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. He will also participate in the celebration of the birth anniversary of the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple.
